David Bertschinger is a KWC junior majoring in physics. He is spending the Spring 2010 semester studying abroad in Rome. He will be providing regular updates to KWConnect.

Filling out the AIFS application was not as complicated as you would think. They required one brief essay and one teacher recommendation, along with forms to be filled out by other teachers and faculty. Plane tickets, meal vouchers and housing are all included in the AIFS package. I enrolled by an early deadline of July 1st (the regular one is October 15th) to receive a promotional offer of 200 Euros free spending money when I get to Italy. After I was accepted into the program, there were more forms to fill out and much more literature to read.

The biggest challenge was to obtain a visa, but even this went without complication. AIFS supplied a guide to filling out the application for a visa. The process includes required travel to the Italian consulate that covers your jurisdiction. In my case, the consulate that covers Kentucky is in Detroit. This process can only be completed within 90 days before leaving, so my father and I went there in mid-November, after AIFS supplied me with the necessary forms and letters. 

I have spent the past months reading up on Italy and Rome, organizing things to pack and eagerly awaiting my plane ride out of the United States. Just recently I received my final package from AIFS, which included my plane tickets, an itinerary, and contact information for overseas and of my fellow travelers.

Now all that lies before me is to pack for this adventure and board a plane in St. Louis and then again in Chicago that will take me across the Atlantic. I will first spend a few days in London before flying to Florence, Italy, for a two-week orientation program, and then on to Rome to start classes for the semester at the beginning of February.

Wish me luck, and be sure to check out my future notes about my adventures over there!

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David Bertschinger is a KWC junior majoring in physics. He is spending the Spring 2010 semester studying abroad on the campus of Richmond University in Rome. He will be providing regular updates to KWConnect. This is his first installment.

Studying abroad has long been a goal of mine. Over three years ago, I began my college search (September of 2006). Little did I know a hunt that took me around the entire Midwest would land me less than three miles from my house at Kentucky Wesleyan.

From the very beginning, one of my important criteria for a college was a good study abroad program. I even applied for a study abroad scholarship at the University of Illinois, a top contender at the time. I finally settled on Kentucky Wesleyan, and this goal was set aside for a time, but not forgotten.

Early on, my plan was only to stay at KWC for three years or less. This set back my study abroad semester to when I was to go to the aforementioned University of Illinois. However, when my plans changed to stay and graduate from KWC, I realized my study abroad plans would also have to be revised. Numerous changes in my academic schedule made this seem like a daunting task.

In the middle of my sophomore year, my parents drew my attention to the imperative nature of finalizing my academic schedule so that I could spend a semester in another country. After many visits with the Academic Dean and emails to my advisor, Dr. Johnson on sabbatical at the University of Kentucky, my class schedule for the next two years was chiseled out so that a semester of my junior year was freed from classes at KWC. However, this required me to take two upper level classes over the summer (Calculus IV and Differential Equations) and pack 18 hours into this past fall semester.

In February, I obtained an application for study abroad from Pam Parr, our academic support advisor at KWC. KWC required an application, mostly for scholarship purposes. I had looked over a program book from the American Institute for Foreign Study, and I decided on their Rome experience. While it was a top contender with other locations, the class “Religions and Cults of Ancient Rome” offered there sold me on that program. Needless to say, I am enrolled in it right now.

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Registration for Winter Term classes begins October 12. Students, login to PantherNet to register. Seniors can register on Monday, Oct. 12, Juniors on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Sophmores on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and Freshmen on Thursday, Oct. 15. You may register after your date, but not before.

Doing anything from January 4 – 22, 2010?

Didn’t think so. Instead of spending a few extra days lounging around at home, try something new this year — maybe sailing in the Virgin Islands, checking out Fort Knox, learning to use an electron microscope or watching movies and listening to rock-and-roll.

The point? You can have fun and earn credit all at the same time with a winter term class at KWC. (Plus, the price is half off. Seriously.)

We’ve rearranged the academic calendar to make time for a winter term that will offer unique classes you might not otherwise get to take. Where else can you learn about the neurobiology of music, eschatology (look it up), parenting or the ethics of war? And, you have more credits than you would without a winter term class.

Travel courses:

• Tropical Marine Biology (Rosemier — includes 10 days in Belize)
• Hemingway, Bishop, Stevens, Merrill and the Florida Keys (K. and J. Moffett – includes time in the Keys)
• Environmental Problems of South Florida (Dehn — includes 10 days in southern Florida)
• Korean War (Horrell — travel to Norfolk and Washington D.C. or Independence and Abilene)
• Leadership Through Sailing (Ayers — includes 6-7 days in the Virgin Islands)

Day travel courses:

• Classical Mythology (Coy — includes travel to Nashville)
• American Military History (Tabor — includes day trip to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox)

On-campus courses:

• Organizational Leadership (Welch)
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (Oetinger)
• Neurobiology of Music (Payne)
• Educational Technology (Hoover)
• Rock & Roll: Its Influence on Society (Earle)
• Human Nutrition (Oetinger)
• American Film: History and Politics (Conroy)
• Topics in Philosophy: The Ethics of War (Gardner)
• Physics and the Arts (Johnson)
• Fathers are Parents Too! (Bettinelli)
• Christian Eschatology (Waldron)
• Sociology Through Film (Beach)

Answers to some FAQs:

• Tuition cost for all Winter Term Classes is $245 per credit hour — half the normal rate! Most classes are three or four credit hours. Travel classes have additional costs.
• Financial Aid — Because tuition is discounted, no scholarships will be awarded. Loans will be available.
• You may only take one course during Winter Term.
• Residential Students — Your room rate is covered if you are currently a residential student.
• Meals — Winter Term is currently not covered on our meal plans, but we are working on a plan if we have enough people on campus. Check back for more information.

Register for Winter Term classes beginning the week of October 12 in the Registrar’s Office. If you have questions about the classes, check with the Academic Dean’s office (peggiegr@kwc.edu or x3117). Also watch your e-mail for announcements about informational meetings.

Don’t wait — some class sizes are limited or must meet a quota to be held. Register today and in a few months, you’ll be having the time of your life.

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